Rollermonkey's First Upgrade

Still waiting... I even had to top off the wet sand in the mostly empty tank. Two gallons of RODI to get back to the level I drained it to, yikes!

The new sump should be ready this week sometime.
I hope.
 
Picked up the replacement sump.

It's obviously all new acrylic, and the seams are pretty heavily cemented this time. I'll wipe it out, place it and start reinstalling everything after dinner. I may or may not get to the point of refilling everything tonight. I've still yet to add salt to the last 20 gallons of RODI that I made when I spotted the leaking and I'll have to make more water for the ATO reservoir since I didn't keep anything over the 5 gallons I put into the bucket I'm using temporarily.
 
After I wiped out the sump, I removed the center brace from the stand. I went back and picked it up the sump to place it in the stand and realized that I had the reservoir in the back, so set it down to turn it around when I realized that the eurobrace is on upside-down. That puts the holes for the ATO lines ATO on the skimmer section and the hole for the overflow pipe over the return chamber. They also forgot to put the filter sock holder and probe holders in.

Aaack!

I called the shop that fabricated it and we worked it out. He's going to come up in the next day or two, plug the hole on the wrong side of the ATO reservoir, bring up the pieces for the holders, and the cement and glue them in. The hole for the overflow pipe isn't a problem. I'm not using a bulkhead anyways, so I don't need it on that side, and the one over the return section doesn't block my return line.

Frustrating, to say the least, since I'm still stuck.
 
That sucks! I'm new to the area and getting ready to setup a reef soon. I really like the sump design but it has to work. Not so sure if I should consider OBD. Good luck!
 
Yeah, they had a personnel change recently and I'm not sure if I like it. The leaking sump was the previous guy, this mess-up was the new guy. Worse was that I was down near there on Thursday and asked if it was ready. The gal on the phone didn't know and said she'd call me back. That didn't happen.
 
Stuff like that makes it hard to give a recommendation to anyone.
Will Mike come fix it today?
 
rollermonkey,

Does your tank/sump maker have a website? OBD is it? I've been looking for a tank maker in the Pacific NW, although I'm in western Montana I'm only 165 miles from Spokane and 500+ to Seattle. Are there any others?
 
It is Oceans By Design. They are on Bookface and have a website. I know that a guy in Idaho drove out with a U-Haul to pick up a tank from them If I recall correctly, it was 6-feet square and 18" deep... So I'm sure they can do whatever you need.


rollermonkey,

Does your tank/sump maker have a website? OBD is it? I've been looking for a tank maker in the Pacific NW, although I'm in western Montana I'm only 165 miles from Spokane and 500+ to Seattle. Are there any others?
 
Stuff like that makes it hard to give a recommendation to anyone.
Will Mike come fix it today?

Mike did come by yesterday and fixed the issues with the sump.

He also spotted that my tank isn't exactly level. Based on the 1/2" dip in the floor, from the back to the front of the tank, it appears I have a sagging joist, even when the tank is empty. I've ordered a couple floor jacks and I will get some deck blocks from Lowe's and shore up the floor this week. It's only a half-inch, so I should be able to lift the joist into the proper position all at once.

I've already started reassembling everything in the sump, but I'm not quite ready to slide it back in place just yet.
 
OK, the tank is back in position and I got the stuff to jack up the floor today. After about 2 hours of crawling round in my crawlspace, I've got the floor, and thus the tank, leveled.





(The supports are plumb, I was just lying down in a 3-foot crawlspace when I shot the picture. So sorry if I didn't frame it perfectly. :P )
 
Just bought some more stuff:
A second 200W Neo-Therm for my backup heater, a second Energy Bar 8 for the Apex, the three-LED moonlight string for the LSM, new Ph and temperature probes, two more filter socks (bringing me to 4) a new wetside and an RF module for the old MP10.


That should be the last hardware purchase for this system.


(Until some shiny new bauble catches my eye or something breaks.)
 
I'm at 75~ish gallons, and I'm almost ready to turn on the return pump.


The level it's at now is almost perfect, I'm just waiting for the water to stop moving, so I can see exactly where it's at. Then I'm going to make another gallon of water to replace what ends up in the return line.


I've had so many problems so far, I'm afraid to turn on the return pump.
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Initial test SAT. No leaks in the return line!


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The water level was definitely a bit low for my taste in the return section with the pump on, so I'm definitely adding another gallon or so.


 
I know the feeling of dread. Like what's going to happen next?

But check the connections twice and then go for it. :)
 
Nice recovery, hopefully smooth waters from here. And jealous that you have 36" of crawl space to work with, I've been remodeling our place in Hansville with only a mere 20" and have replaced all plumbing and electrical doing the 'Army man shuffle' Then like you had to correct some flooring issues by addition of pier blocks and added joists, 18 down and about 20-24 to go. If you get bored and need anything else to do since now qualified feel free to join me... lol

Cheers, Todd
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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